Overview of Recent Codes and

Standards Initiatives

 Moderator: Ronaldo Jenkins, Senior Project Manager, RES/DE/RGPMB

 Panelists/Speakers:
 Donald Eggett (ANS) and Thomas Vogan (ASME)
 Mark Richter (NEI)
 Thomas Basso (NEI)
 David Rudland (NRC)
 Sheila Ray (NRC)

1
ANS/ASME Nuclear Standards
Collaborative to Support Advanced
Reactor Standards Needs

NRC Standards Forum

September 15, 2021
Donald R. Eggett
Chair, ANS Standards Board
Thomas J. Vogan
Chair, Board on Nuclear Codes & Standards
2
Background
Over the past few years, multiple reports have been issued and workshops held
identifying standards needs for the advanced reactor community. Some of these
include:

 NEI 19-03 (Rev. 1), Advanced Reactor Codes and Standards Needs
Assessment (March 2020)
 ANS/NEI Advanced Reactor Codes and Standards Workshop (June 2020)
 NRC Standards Forum emphasizing the need for better industry coordination
(October 2020)
 ASME High-Temperature Reactor Workshop (November 2020)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 ANS Special Report Setting the Right Bar: How Consensus Standards Help
Advanced Reactor Development (November 2019)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 ANS/NRC Workshop to Develop a Strategic Vision for Advanced Reactor

Standards (May 2018)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 NRC Standards Forum on advanced reactors (September 2017)

 ORNL/SR-2017/520, Assessment of Applicability of Standards Endorsed by
Regulatory Guides to Sodium Fast Reactors (September 2017)
3
ANS/ASME Joint Nuclear Standards
Collaborative Proposal
ANS and ASME approved a proposal to jointly create a Nuclear
Standards Collaborative—a “centralized industry led team”—to ensure
there is coordination and collaboration among standards development
organizations (SDOs) to support the reactor designers, regulators, and
other interested stakeholders to develop industry standards and/or
guidelines in support of the designers’ advanced reactor designs.

This proposal parallels the focus of NRC’s Forums:

“… aims to identify standards needs for the nuclear industry that are
not currently being addressed by standards development organizations
(SDOs) such as ASTM, ASME, ACI, ANS, IEEE, etc.”

4
Focus

The primary focus is on the integration and harmonization among all

SDOs to support advanced reactor designers on the needs for
developing such standards. Although the focus will be on advanced
reactors, nonreactor nuclear facilities and current operating reactors
may be given some consideration relative to their prioritized needs for
consensus standards or industry guidelines.

5
Objectives

 Develop appropriate interrogatories, agendas, and other actions

necessary to facilitate strategies and action plans that support
the development of codes, standards, and other guidance that
foster licensing, design, construction, and operation of advanced
reactors. Specific actions include:
• Establish a list of advanced reactor needs using existing
industry resources.
• Solicit additional standards needed from Nuclear Standards
Collaborative members based on users’ prioritization.
• Compile a list of all standards currently being developed or
revised and planned by SDOs and other stakeholders that
will support advanced reactor initiatives.

6
Objectives (Cont’d)

• Develop a roadmap for advanced reactor standards needs

across all participative SDOs based on above gathered
information.
• Develop a recommended list of standards development
priorities with associated targeted milestones from this
roadmap.

 Develop plans that are optimal in meeting the needs of

developers/designers and stakeholder organizations. Formats
may include virtual, face-to-face, or hybrid meetings and the
structuring of semi-annual international forums with the mission
of assembling stakeholders to obtain their input, comments,
priorities, and challenges.

7
Organization

 The Nuclear Standards Collaborative will be governed by a

steering committee. The ANS Standards Board Chair and the
ASME Board on Nuclear Codes and Standards Chair have
been assigned to lead the steering committee.

 The membership of the steering committee will be comprised

of a “core group” of industry members, working independently
but with support of the full Nuclear Standards Collaborative,
ANS and ASME leadership, and other stakeholders to drive
achievement of timely needed prioritized standards.

 ANS and ASME organization staffs will administratively support

the Nuclear Standards Collaborative as needed.

8
Membership Makeup

 Full membership should include stakeholders from several

constituencies, for example: SDOs (ANS, ASME, IEEE, ASTM,
ASCE, ACI, etc.), NEI, NRC, DOE (incl. labs), EPRI, reactor
developers/vendors (e.g., BWXT, Holtec, GEH, Westinghouse,
NuScale, Kairos Power, Terra Power, X-Energy, etc.) architect
engineers & constructors (e.g., Bechtel, Fluor, Sargent & Lundy,
etc.), equipment and technical service suppliers, and
owners/licensees.

 Consideration will be given to including members from

international organizations to gain their input and engagement.

9
Benefits to Participation
 Improve the identification and prioritization of needed standards
through engagement, input and collaboration with industry
stakeholders.

 Determine which subject matter is best covered by standards vs.

other industry documents (“guidelines”).

 Incentivize the “harmonization” of integrated codes & standards

and collaborative SDO activities.

 Expedite standards development through an industry process for

funding and possible “trial use.”

 Standards that better meet design goals, challenges and

development timelines, and provide a path to efficient regulatory
approval.

10
Benefits to Participation (Cont’d)
 SDOs will realize benefits as follows:
• Utilize recommendations to ensure prioritization of timely
needed standards to better plan for and allocate limited
supporting resources.
• Ensure standards are relevant and support industry objectives.
• Increase participation of advanced reactor developers/vendors
standards development.
• Develop more harmonized and better-quality standards through
collaboration.
• Establish better collaboration with industry.
• Elevate awareness of OMB Circular A-119 and the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act which establishes
and clarifies U.S. policy to elevate and increase Federal
reliance on voluntary consensus standards.
11
Milestones: Initial Phase (3-12 months)

 ANS and ASME have appointed co-chairs to lead activities.

 ANS and ASME to perform initial outreach and solicit

participation from SDOs and key industry stakeholders to
support the steering committee.

 Establish the Nuclear Standards Collaborative committee

membership; hold working meeting(s) to initiate the committee.

 Establish the process to obtain needed financial support for the

development of prioritized, near-term advanced reactor codes
and standards.

12
Milestones: Initial Phase (3-12 months)
(Cont’d)

 Determine Nuclear Standards Collaborative meeting structure

(i.e., full committee meetings vs. steering committee plus
industry workshops and periodicity).

 Develop and issue full committee and steering committee

charters, meeting frequencies, committee protocols, required
logistics, decision making processes, etc.

13
Milestones: Near Term (1-2 yrs.)

 Establish a list of the next advanced reactor needs.

 Compile list of the next advanced reactor standards under

development/revision or planned.

 Develop roadmap of the next needed advanced reactor

standards.

 Prioritize list of the next needed advanced reactor standards.

 Develop proposals for funding and resource development for the

next highest priority standards.

14
Milestones: Long Term (3-5 yrs.)

 Update list of needed advanced reactor standards.

 Update list of standards under development/revision or planned.

 Revise roadmap if needed for advanced reactor standards.

 Update prioritized list of needed advanced reactor standards.

 Develop additional proposals for funding development of

advanced reactor priority standards.

15
Closing Remarks
The Nuclear Standards Collaborative
A multi-organization campaign dedicated to accelerating the
development of industry consensus standards for advanced nuclear
energy systems.

This approved proposal /initiative parallels the focus of NRC’s Forums.

Guiding principle: Greater use of industry consensus standards in
the NRC licensing and regulatory processes.
Main objectives:
1. Identify high priority consensus standards in need of
development/updates.
2. Seek and obtain funding to accelerate development of high priority
standards, using inter-SDO partnerships where applicable.
3. Ensure the timely adoption of new/updated standards into
NRC regulations.

16
Closing Remarks (Cont’d)
The Nuclear Standards Collaborative

Other Considerations:
1. An aggressive initiative requiring everyone’s engagement.
2. Harmonization of technical and management decision-making.
3. A “living exercise” i.e., roadmap can change at any time, if
needed.

17
18
Recent Codes
and Standards
Initiatives
NRC Standards Forum

Mark Richter
Nuclear Energy Institute
September 15, 2021

©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute 19

Advanced Reactors
▪ Energy markets are evolving and carbon-free options drive
forward planning
▪ Large reactor competitive position challenged-plants
shutting down
▪ U.S. utilities evaluating different options for new nuclear
▪ Growing interest in conversion of coal power sites to
nuclear
▪ Carbon-free energy portfolios not possible without nuclear
▪ Continued strong support in Congress
20 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
Advanced Reactor Momentum
• Over 60 new technologies under development for numerous markets
• Strong bipartisan support in Congress
• Tangible movement to multiple demonstrations in 2020s
– DOE funding 12 different designs, >$5B over 7 years
• Federal and state policies evolving in right direction

• U.S. utilities evaluating advanced reactor nuclear energy in their resource

plans

NRC must enable innovation

so that nuclear can play a key role in carbon reduction
21 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
Advanced Nuclear Versatility
Spectrum of Sizes/Options Variety of Outputs Multitude of Uses

Micro Mini Small Homes Businesses

(Few MW) (10s of MW) (100s of MW)
Electricity

H2 Vehicles Rail Shipping

Hydrogen
Steel Water

Process
Large (1,000+ MW) Heat Concrete Factories

22 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

 Types of Advanced Reactors
Range of sizes and features to meet diverse market needs
High Temp
Micro Reactors LWR SMRs
Gas Reactors
(< 20MW) <300MW Liquid Metal Reactors Molten Salt Reactors

TerraPower Natrium (shown)

Several in development
Oklo (shown) NuScale (shown) Terrestrial (shown)
Approximately a dozen in GEH X-300 X-energy (shown) Several in development
development Holtec SMR-160 Several in development

Non-Water Cooled
23
Most <300MW, some as large as 1,000 MW
©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
 NRC Applications and Pre-Application
• NuScale – Light-water SMR
• Oklo Aurora – micro-reactor
• GEH BWRX-300 – Light-water SMR
• General Atomics EM2 – gas cooled fast reactor
• Holtec SMR-160 – Light-water SMR
• Kairos Power – salt cooled with TRISO fuel
• Terrestrial Energy – molten salt reactor
• TerraPower – Natrium
• TerraPower – molten chloride fast reactor
• Westinghouse – micro-reactor
• X-energy XE-100 – high-temperature gas reactor

Information above from NRC as of Aug 16, 2021 24 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
Regulatory Priorities
▪ Streamlining the regulatory process
• Timely and efficient NRC safety reviews
• Environmental reviews
▪ Resolving key technical and policy issues
• Emergency planning zones
• Physical security
• Population criteria for siting
▪ Modern and efficient regulatory framework
• Risk-informed licensing approaches
• Technology-inclusive rulemaking
25 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
NEI Activities

26 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

ASME/ANS Joint Proposal to Create a U.S. Nuclear Standards
Advisory Committee
▪ Background
• Advanced reactor (AR) developers moving forward rapidly with
initial licensing and design activities
• Recognition by SDOs, NEI, AR Developers, NRC and DOE that
prioritization and coordination of C&S development is necessary
to support timely development and deployment of ARs
▪ Actions
• Compile list of AR needs using resources such as NEI 19-03,
independent ANS assessment and forums and workshops
• Develop roadmap for AR standards needs from SDOs
27 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
Quality Assurance Guidance for 10 CFR Part 53
▪ Plants licensed under Part 53 able to purchase components under a
commercial quality program without commercial grade dedication
▪ New approaches to QA that are not anchored by Part 50 and App B
▪ Prefer use of ISO 9001 versus ISO 19443, the nuclear specific version
of ISO 9001 - may limit the number of possible suppliers
▪ QA requirement related to providing “reasonable assurance of
adequate protection.” Adequate protection equivalent to “safety-
related” in Part 50
▪ Allows more flexibility in how ISO-9001 can meet the requirement
▪ Current action is identifying deltas between Appendix B and ISO 9001,
and special requirements needed to buttress 9001
▪ Potential applicability to operating fleet, as Part 53 continues
development
28 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute
Questions?

29
NEI Codes and
Standards Task Force

Thomas Basso
Sr. Director Eng & Risk

September 15, 2021

©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute 30

NEI Codes and Standards Task Force

Mission

Ensure licensee and regulatory

activities implemented through codes
and standards committees are
consistent with nuclear industry
policies and interests, and consistent
with the Principles of Good Regulation.

31 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

Codes & Standards Task Force Scope
 Advocate for utilities representation on code and standards committees to improve industry
engagement.

 Engage utility representatives on changes to codes and standards by ensuring the best
interest of the industry is known and understood.

 Facilitate member collaboration and support on code and standards activities, review of
regulatory changes, and application of risk-informed approaches.

 Communicate proposed or approved code and regulation changes that significantly benefit or
impact the industry to garner requisite support or challenge.

 Primary task force interface with NRC on code items including emergent issues from
inspections to ensure industry alignment.

 Promote retention and understanding C&S knowledge.

32 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

NEI Codes and Standards Task Force Update

ASME
Section
XI

Regulatory
Initiatives
ASME
ASME Section
OM III

33 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

ASME Section XI Code Activities

 Code Case to Extend In-service Inspection Interval to 12 Years

 TG Repair/Replacement Optimization
• Clarification on Repair/Replacement Plans Options
• Code Case on Repairs of Routine Nature
• Pressure Testing Alternative

 Cast Austinetic Stainless Steel UT Examination Requirements (CC N-824)

34 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

ASME Section III Code Activities

 Task Group on Section III/XI Interface

 Code Case on Alternate Requirements

 Regulatory Strategy Support

• Risk-informed Code Initiative Alignment

35 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

ASME OM Code Activities

 Valve Supplemental Position Indication Testing

• Code Case OMN-28 Relief Request and Implementation
• Code Case on Alternative to ISTC-3700

 Valve Manual Exercising Frequency Extension

 Exploring Potential Risk-informed Applications

 OM Subcommittee on New Reactors

36 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

Regulatory Initiatives

 Reg Guides 1.147, 1.84, and 1.192 Review and Comment

 10 CFR 50.55a Proposed Rule Review and Comment

 Extension of 10 CFR 50.55a Requirements to Update ISI/IST Programs

• SECY-21-0029 Commission Review
• Pilot Exemption Request

 RIS (in process) on Treatment of Operational Leakage

37 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

Questions

38 ©2021 Nuclear Energy Institute

 NRC Standards Forum
Rulemaking Plan on Revision of
Inservice Testing and Inservice
Inspection Program Update
Frequencies Required in
10 CFR 50.55a
September 15, 2021
39
 NRC Staff
• Presenters:
– David Rudland, NRR: Technical Lead
• Working Group Members:
– Sheldon Clark, OGC: Attorney
– Victoria Huckabay, NMSS: Rulemaking PM
– Thomas Scarbrough, NRR: Technical Staff
– Ian Tseng, NRR: Technical Staff
– Mark Yoo, RES: Technical Staff

40
 Agenda

• Purpose of the SECY Paper

• Rulemaking Impact
• Background
• Regulatory Issue
• Proposed Rulemaking
– Scope
– Schedule
• Staff’s Recommendation
• ACRS Recommendation
41
 Purpose of the SECY
Paper
• Request Commission approval to initiate a rulemaking
to amend 10 CFR Part 50.55a to extend the interval of
inservice testing (IST) and inservice inspection (ISI)
program updates.
– Current 120-month update interval would be extended to 240
months, after updating to the most recent Codes and addenda
incorporated by reference in§50.55a.
– Requests Commission to delegate signature authority to the
EDO.
• Request Commission approval and delegations for a
potential subsequent rulemaking to extend update
interval from 240 months to 288 months.
42
 Rulemaking Impact

What will change?

• The frequency licensees are required to update their IST/ISI
programs to use the most recent version of the ASME Code
incorporated by reference in 10 CFR 50.55a, after updating to
2019/2020 or later editions of ASME Codes
o IST/ISI programs include processes and procedures for plants to conform to
ASME OM Code and BPV Section XI requirements

What won’t change?

• Level of safety afforded by the currently mandated Code Editions
• Required inspections, testing, analysis, and reporting
• NRC ability to impose requirements for emergent safety issues
• Licensee ability to update IST/ISI programs early (i.e., prior to
required update)
43
 Background

• Effort began as an NRR EMBARK Venture Studios (EVS) project

(ML20153A752)
• Identified 3 recommendations to pursue:
1. Relax the requirement to update IST and ISI programs every 120
months following the next update to the 2019/2020 ASME Codes.
2. Institute direct final rules for unconditionally approved code cases.
3. Decrease frequency of ASME Code editions rulemakings.
• SECY requests rulemaking for Recommendation 1.
– Would provide improved flexibility and burden reduction to licensees
while maintaining safety
– Recommendation is outside the scope of delegation for routine ASME
Code updates and requires Commission approval.
• Staff will implement Recommendations 2 and 3.
– Recommendations are within the staff’s delegated authority for
rulemaking.
44
 Regulatory Issue

• 10 CFR 50.55a requires that every 120 months licensees must

update IST and ISI programs to the latest edition and addenda of
the ASME OM and BPV Section XI Codes incorporated by
reference within 18 months of the start of 120-month interval.
– Major modifications to ASME Codes typically take more than a decade.
– Discovery of new degradation mechanisms has slowed greatly in recent
years.
• Discovery of new degradation mechanisms or performance
issues are typically first addressed by ASME using Code Cases
before incorporating into an edition.
– NRC would continue reviewing new or revised Code Cases for
incorporation into the regulations on a biannual basis.
– Extending the IST and ISI program update interval does not inhibit
NRC’s ability to specify requirements if required for safety.
45
 Rulemaking Scope

• The proposed rulemaking would double the time between

updates for the licensee’s Codes of record for IST and ISI
programs from 120 months to 240 months for licensees
that update to the most recent edition and addenda of the
ASME OM Code and BPV Code, Section XI, incorporated by
reference
– Current 120-month ISI program update interval corresponds to the
current 10-year ISI interval in ASME BPV Code, Section XI.
• Potential future rulemaking to extend the update requirement
from 240 months to 288 months.
– ASME is considering extending current ISI interval to 12 years.
– Staff is not currently proposing to conduct this rulemaking and ASME
has not yet extended the interval.
46
 Rulemaking Schedule

• Deliver proposed rule to NRR OD – 12 months

after receipt of Commission’s SRM.
• Deliver final rule to NRR OD – 12 months after
comment period for proposed rule closes.
• This rulemaking may be combined with the
next routine ASME Code Edition or Code Case
rulemaking.

47
 Staff’s Recommendation

• Staff recommends that the Commission:

– Approve initiation of a rulemaking to extend the
interval for the IST and ISI program updates from 120
months to 240 months, after updating to the most
recent Codes incorporated by reference in § 50.55a.
– Approve a future rulemaking to extend the interval
from 240 months to 288 months if ASME increases
the ISI interval to 12 years.
– Approve the staff’s request not to develop
a regulatory basis for these rulemakings.
– Delegate signature authority for these actions to
the EDO.
48
 ACRS Recommendation

• Staff briefed the ACRS on July 7, 2021

• By letter dated July 26, 2021, the ACRS:
– Concurred with the staff’s recommendation to extend
the IST/ISI update interval from 120 months to 240
months, with a potential future extension to 288
months.
– Noted the minimal impact on safety once licensees
have implemented recent ASME Code editions
(2019/2020 or later).
– Recommended that the staff move expeditiously to
implement the two additional recommendations in the
EMBARK Venture Studio report.
49
QUESTIONS?

50
Regulatory Guidance Framework
for IEEE Electrical Standards
Sheila Ray, P.E.
NRR/DEX/EEEB
September 15, 2021

51
 Standards Association (SA)

Standards Board

Power & Energy Society (PES)

Nuclear Power Engineering Energy Storage & Power System Insulated

Committee (NPEC) Stationary Battery Relaying & Conductors
Committee (ESSB) Control Committee (ICC)
Committee
SC2 SC3 SC4 SC5 SC6 (PSRC)

52
Status of Significant Regulatory Guides
• Environmental Qualification: RG 1.89
– To endorse IEC/IEEE Std. 60780-323-2016
– Received public comments
– Addressing public comments currently
– Publication expected first quarter 2022
• Environmental Qualification of Connection Assemblies:
RG 1.156
– To endorse IEEE Std. 572-2019
– Draft for public comment expected before end of Dec 2021
• Environmental Qualification of Actuators: RG 1.73
– To endorse IEEE Std. 382-2019
– Draft in development

53
Status of Significant Regulatory Guides
• Onsite Emergency AC Power Sources: RG 1.9
– To endorse IEEE Stds. 387-2017 (EDG) and 2420-2019 (CTG)
– Adds Design and Testing Considerations for AC Power sources
other than EDGs and CTGs
– Received & addressed public comments
– ACRS meetings held in July 2021
– Public meeting conducted in Aug 2021
– Republish revised draft guide for public comment by end of
Dec. 2021
• Protection of Class 1E Power Systems: new RG
– To endorse IEEE Std. 741-2021/2022 (upcoming revision)
– Expected to have draft out for public comment mid-2022

54
Status of Significant Regulatory Guides
• Assessing, Monitoring, and Mitigating Aging
Effects: new RG
– To endorse IEEE Std. 1205-2014
– Expected to have draft out for public comment by
the end of Dec. 2021
• Risk-Informed Categorization of Electrical and
Electronic Equipment
– To endorse IEEE Std. 1819-2016
– Determining path forward of endorsing in a new
RG or an existing RG 1.201 on categorization of
SSCs

55
Status of Significant Regulatory Guides
• Qualification of battery chargers, inverters & UPS:
RG 1.210
– To endorse IEEE Std. 650-2017
– Draft in development
• Sizing lead-acid batteries: RG 1.212
– To endorse IEEE Std. 485-2020
– Draft in development
• Installation Design & Installation of Vented Lead-
Acid Batteries: RG 1.128
– To endorse IEEE Std. 484-2019
– Draft in development

56
 Acronyms
AC – Alternating Current
ACRS – Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
IEC – International Electrotechnical Commission
IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
RG – Regulatory Guide
SSC – system, structure, and component
Std. – Standard
UPS – uninterruptible power supply

57
Questions?

58
 Vision & Strategy of IEEE Electrical Standards - ROADMAP
• Focus on the agency mission and regulatory requirements when determining a RG is needed or requires
updating.
• Represents a technically viable approach for allowing licensees, manufacturers, vendors, and NRC staff to
effectively navigate and use regulatory guidance.
• Prevents the ad hoc approach of generating additional regulatory guidance documents.
• Combine related standards on a technical topic into one RG.
– Reduced staff hours as compared to updating and maintaining several RGs
– Reduced costs as compared to updating and maintaining several RGs
– Technical Efficacy - Generates efficiencies such that industry/users have a one-stop shop on NRC
positions on a particular topic
– Process Efficiency – review process is streamlined for one RG on a technical topic (i.e. one public
comment period on a technical topic)
– Updates to a combined RG endorsing several standards would only be considered when there are
significant changes that impact the staff’s position or provide additional clarifications
– Examples:
• RG. 1.100 (seismic qualification) includes both 60980-344 & C37.98
• One RG on the design of DC systems to include 946 (design), 1189 (selection of batteries),
1375 (protection), & 2405 (battery chargers), all of which are critical to a DC system design.
• For standards in the early stages of development, NRC action will be determined once early drafts are
available to ascertain how the standard fulfills the agency’s mission and provides methods to meet
regulatory requirements.

59